August – All for Jesus Always

All for Jesus always

August

Romans, 1 Corinthians and Psalms

There is no one like Jesus to me!

August

“Christ, our Righteousness”

During this month we’ll read through and learn from the books of Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Psalms.

3 1 August: God’s kindness... Pray “Lord, thank You for Your kindness toward me and others.” Read Romans 2 and Psalm 65-67 Think + write In Psalm 66 David proclaims what wonderful things God had done for him. With him, I too can say:  God has ………………………...my life (v9a)  God has ……………………………………..from slipping! (v9b)  God ………………………...me (v10a)  God ………………………….me like silver (v10b)  God brought me to a place of ………………………………(v12b)  God ………………………….my voice in prayer (v19)  God did not withhold His love from me! (v20). How wonderful!! I read in Psalm 67 that when (1) God is gracious to US and (2) blesses US, and (3) makes His face shine upon US… then His ways will be known on earth and His salvation (His “saving health” - KJV) among all nations! From this I learn that…………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………. When God speaks about “saving health”, I see that true health is not just the absence of disease or infirmity, no, it is a state of complete physical, psychological, spiritual and social well-being. Health and salvation cannot be separated. When I am not spiritually well, I am sick! When my mind is not pure, I am sick! When I live in sin, I am sick! When I am selfish or self-centered, I am sick! But God says (through John): “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 2).

In Romans 2 God says that there are some people who tell others how to live and talk about how to live in the right way, but they themselves don’t do it (See verses 1-3, 17-24). Because of this, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles…” (v24). This is very sad, even today. Please see Eze 36:23. Paul asks in Rom 2:4, do you not realize that “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”. This means:…………. ……………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………. Pray “Father, may I always remain responsive to Your kindness which always leads me to repentance.” Go + Do be responsive. 4 Romans

This book tells us of God’s method to make guilty men and women good. It is the most comprehensive and systematic statement of the Christian faith in the Bible. It is the foundation of Christian theology. It can be summarized in 3 words: Faith (ch 1-4); Hope (5-11); and Love (12-16). The book of Romans shows us: 1. What we are by nature (Rom 1:1-3:20) 2. How to become a Christian (Rom 3:21-5:21) 3. How to live a Christian life (Rom 6-8) 4. Why Israel is set aside (Rom 9-11) 5. How to serve God (Rom 12-16)

Cawood gives the following OUTLINE of this letter: The need for God’s righteousness (1:1-3:20) Gentiles (1:1-32), Jews (2:1-3:8) and All need it (3:9-20) The provision of God’s righteousness (3:21-4:25) The death of Christ (3:21-26) & the avenue of faith (3:27-4:25) The results of God’s righteousness (5:1-8:39) Possessions in Christ (5:1-21), Freedom in Christ (6:1-7:25), Spirit of Christ (8:1-27), Union with Christ (8:28-39) The defense of God’s righteousness (9-11) In Israel’s past (ch 9), present (10), and future (11) The application of God’s righteousness (12-16): Between the believer and God (12:1-8), between believers (12:9-16), between believers and unbelievers (12:17-21), between believers and gov- ernments (13:1-7), between believers and the law of love (13:8- 14), between the believer and his actions (14:1-15:13), between Paul and the Romans (15:14-33), between Paul and his friends (16:1-27). The key verses are Romans 1:16-17, which (according to Henrietta Mears) reveals: The Person of the Gospel—Jesus Christ The Power of the Gospel— “the power of God” The Purpose of the Gospel—“for the salvation” The People to whom sent—“everyone” The Plan of acceptance—“everyone who believes” The Particular result—“the righteous will live by faith”

5 2 August: Trusting Jesus! Pray “Lord, show me Your way of salvation…” Read Romans 3 and Psalm 68-69 Think + write In Romans chapter 3 I see what I am by nature, naturally, without Christ::  “All have sinned”(v23); “We’re sinners, every one of us” (MSG)  We’re “in the same sinking boat with everybody else” (MSG)  “All fall short of God’s glorious ideal” (v23;LB); “We are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us” (MSG)  “There is no one righteous, not even one” (3:10)  “There is no one who does good…” (3:12)  “All have turned away…” (v12) In the light of these verses I realize that I……………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. This revelation of my utter sinfulness and hopelessness and ruin is followed by a revelation of God’s way of saving me…!! I read “But now God has shown us a different way to heaven…”(LB):  “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus” (v22)  God is the “one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (v26b)  I am “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (v24)  “Now God says he will accept and acquit us - declare us ‘not guilty’ - if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins” (v22;LB)  “And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like” (v22;LB)  “For God ...used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath” (v25;LB)  “Our acquittal is not based on our good deeds; it is based on what Christ has done and our faith in Him” (v27;LB) My response:…………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. I read in Psalm 68:11, “The Lord gave the word; thousands called out the good news” (MSG); “...the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host” (Ampl). David said to God: “I love You more than I can say ...I’m madly in love with You” (Ps 69:9;MSG). Pray “Father, help me to Go + Do trust in Jesus always!” 6

What is SIN?!

Whatever is not of faith is sin! (Rom 14:23) Whatever is born not out of a relationship with Je- sus, is sin...

Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4), it’s breaking God’s law of love...

Sin is missing the mark, missing the goal God has for me...

Sin is selfishness….Any form of selfishness or self-centeredness is sin. The centre of S-I-N is “I”...

Independence from God is sin...

Susanna Wesley said: “Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things, in short, if anything increases the authority and the power of the flesh over the spirit—that to you becomes sin, however good it is in itself…”

All have sinned… (Rom 3:23)

The wages of sin is death… (Rom 6:23)

7 3 August: Christ is my Righteousness Pray “Lord, thank You for being my righteousness…” Read Romans 4 and Psalm 70-72 Think + write I am made right with God by grace, through faith, not by my works, ...but also not without works of obedient repentance and faith in Jesus’ finished work on the Cross. The key concept in the book of Romans is Righteousness. Charles Finney says “righteousness is moral uprightness”; it is “that love to God and man which the Bible requires”; it is a “state of the heart”, where the moral law (of supreme unselfish love to God and love to man as to ourselves), is written on the heart and expressed in the life. “Righteousness is (also) a state of mind in which there is a continual offering of self in a confiding love-service to God.” “Christ Himself is made to me righteousness” (1 Co 1:30). HE is my righteousness! I am made right with God, through obedient faith in Jesus Christ, because of what HE accomplished on the Cross. I am made right with God, not through what I did, but also not without what I did to “repent and believe” (Mark 1:15).  “To the man who...trusts God...his faith is credited as righteousness” (Rom 4:5)  “...the righteousness that comes by faith” (Rom 4:13)  “...but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him...” (Rom 4:24) Roy Hession, in “Good News for Bad People,” describes this faith as “Believing on God who declares him to be right who confesses himself to be wrong.” F-A-I-T-H means: “Forsaking All I Take Him”!! Some people say the book of Romans explains:  Imputed righteousness = Justification = Penalty of sin removed. Justification means to be made righteous, or to be put in right standing with God. It is “just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned”! It is to be a present continuous reality: “Being now justified by His blood” (Rom 5:9). The word “justify” could more correctly have been written “righteousify”.  Imparted righteousness = Sanctification = Power of sin broken.  Completed righteousness = Glorification = Presence of sin removed. Pray “Lord Jesus, thank You for being my righteousness and for making me right with You.” Go + Do live out His righteousness. 8

“The just shall live by his faith” (Hab 2:4), NOT by his feelings!

One of the stanzas in the poem “I am a Debtor”, written in 1837 by Robert Murray McCheyne, reads as follows:

“When I stand before the throne, Dressed in beauty not my own, When I see Thee as Thou art, Love Thee with unsinning heart, Then, Lord, shall I fully know— Not till then—how much I owe.”

9 Facts Faith Feelings

What comes first? What do I follow?

10 I’ll not follow FEELINGS…!

 FEELINGS are part of the FLESH  God says: “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the FLESH, you will surely DIE…” (Rom 8:13;Ampl)  If I follow FEELINGS, I follow my FLESH…  If I follow FEELINGS, I’m NOT following GOD…  If I follow FEELINGS, I’m in the FLESH….  If I “FEEL” lonely, or sad, or excited, or “in love”, or de- pressed, or discouraged, or irritable, or angry, or lazy…, I need to recognize that it is only what I FEEL, and that I am called to NOT follow my FEELINGS or be controlled by my FEELINGS, but I must follow GOD and His will.  I constantly REFUSE to follow my FEELINGS, and constantly CHOOSE to follow GOD’S WILL…  I also realize that I can NOT RELY on my feelings. For instance, if I FEEL far from God, it does not mean that I am far from Him if I FEEL not forgiven, it does not mean that I am not forgiven if I FEEL forgiven, it does not mean that I am forgiven if I FEEL rejected or not loved by God, it does NOT mean that I am rejected or not loved by Him. if I FEEL unworthy, it does NOT mean that I am unworthy—not at all!  FEELINGS are often not a reflection of the TRUTH  I choose to NOT follow my FEELINGS - with God’s help.  I choose to NOT listen to my feelings, but to listen to God’s Truth, through His Word.

11  To put FEELINGS first is to try and build a house without any foundation (the FACTS)… It’ll collapse!!!

“Fact, Faith, and Feeling were sitting on the wall. Feeling fell off and grabbed on to Faith, pulling Faith down. Fact grabbed Faith and held Faith up. Eventually, Fact pulled Faith back up which then eventually brought Feeling back up. “Three men were walking on a wall, Feeling, Faith and Fact, When Feeling got an awful fall, and Faith was taken back, So close was Faith to Feeling, he stumbled and fell too, But Fact remained and pulled Faith back, And Faith brought Feeling too.”

I’ll not focus on “FAITH”…!

 To have faith in faith will NOT help me to face life’s challenges and up hills…  I can’t seek FAITH first, without considering and focus- ing on the FACTS, on which alone faith and feeling can rest…!  It’s like a man on a freezing cold night, who desires to get warm and has “faith” to get warm, but he refuses to go to the fire (the facts) that burns strongly in the hearth!  I need to have faith (trust) based on the FACTS revealed in God’s Word;  I need to rather focus on the FACTS, the TRUTHS, revealed about God and His Word...

12 I have FAITH in God’s FACTS…!

 My life can only go forward successfully (and go over the hills of difficulties and temptations and hardships) if I focus in faith on the FACTS revealed about God and revealed by God (in His Word)…  I can’t put feelings first...  I can’t follow feelings…  I can’t have “faith” in “faith”…  “We walk by faith” in God’s FACTS, revealed in the Bible  I choose to focus on the FACTS revealed by God and put my FAITH in THAT.

 Some of the FACTS revealed are the following:  God loves me, if I feel it or not! (Jn 3:16, Jer 31:3, 1 J 4:16)  I am precious to God (Isaiah 43:4)  He gave His life for me on the Cross  He paid the full penalty for my sins on the Cross  IF I come to Him He will never cast me away  Since I repented, put my trust in Him, and confessed my sins—I am forgiven and cleansed from all my sins…!!!  I have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20; Rom 6:6)  I have been raised with Christ and I am seated with Him in heavenly places, ABOVE all demons and powers… (Col 3:1-4)  I have been bought by His precious blood, I now belong to God, I do not belong to myself any more (1 Co 6:19,20)  Christ is in me! (Col 1:27)  I am more than a conqueror through Christ! (1 Co 15:57)  The work He started in me, He will complete! (Phil 1:6)  He will never give up on me! (1 Co 1:8,9)  He is faithful! Etc……!!!!!!! THANK YOU, LORD!! 13 4 August: I’m justified! Pray “Lord, help me to experience and understand this truth” Read Romans 5 and Psalm 73, 74 Think + write I read of a glorious truth in Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ ……………….. for …………..”. “But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us” (Ampl). “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly”(5:6). If I am a sinner, if I am ungodly, I can know for sure—Christ died for me!!!! This is amazing love! This is redeeming love! By faith in Jesus Christ I gained access to God’s grace (v2). Through the Lord Jesus Christ I now have peace with God (v1b). Through the Holy Spirit (whom God has given me), the love of God has been poured out into my heart (v5). This is glorious! I “have been justified by faith…” (Rom 5:1) “Justified” means:……………………………………………………… ………………………………………………….………………………. “By faith” means:………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………….. Charles Finney said, “Justification...consists in pardon and acceptance with God ...on account of ...faith and works of faith”. The foundation is not our faith or our works, but Christ’s love through His death on the Cross. He also explained that “faith is that confidence in God that leads us to love and obey Him”. This is so true! Justifying faith does not consist in believing that my sins are forgiven when they are not yet forgiven. Though Christ died for it and paid for it already on the Cross, 2000 years ago, I’m only forgiven of it when I put my trust in what Christ did for me on the Cross, obey and love Him, and repent of my sins (by God’s grace).

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 73:25. By God’s grace I can say with Asaph: “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You”! “There is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee” (KJV)! “You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth!” (MSG). Pray “Father, may this be true in my life, every day.” Go + Do bear the fruit of believing in and loving Jesus. 14

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You”! (NIV) “There is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee” ! (KJV)

“You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth!” (MSG)

15 5 August: Romans 6! Pray “Lord, please show me the Secret of Your Victorious Life…” Read Romans 6 and Psalm 75-77 Think + write In Psalm 77 we see Asaph’s Sorrow (v1-10) turned into a Song (v11-20) when he remembered how God helped his people in the past. I also read in Esther 9:22 how the children of God’s “sorrow was turned into joy”. In my own life I experienced the same when…………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………... ………………………………………………………………………….. In Romans 6-8 we see how to live the Christian life. The first and very important key (or “secret”) is found in Romans 6. There I read that:  “We died to sin” (v2); I died to sin - “For sin’s power over us (me) was broken when we (I) became Christians…”(LB).  “You died… when He died…”(v5;LB): I died when He died!  “We know that our old self was crucified with Him” (v6); my old self was crucified with Christ! “Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with Him” (LB).  “We died with Christ” (v8); I died with Christ! “And since your old sin-loving nature ‘died’ with Christ, we know that you will share His new life” (LB).  “Count yourselves (reckon yourselves) dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (v11); “So look upon your old sinful nature as dead and unresponsive to sin, and instead be alive to God, alert to Him, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (LB).  Then… “Offer (yield) yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life” (v13). “Give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for His good pur- poses” (LB).  “For sin shall NOT be your master…”(v14), “Sin shall NOT have dominion over you” (KJV). Hallelujah! Sin is NOT my master any more, sin does NOT rule me any more! But, ...though sin’s Tyranny was broken, sin’s Tendency is still there, and I need to walk very carefully with God… When He rules in me, sin will NOT rule. Pray “Father, thank You for showing me the Way to Victory!” Go + Do ...Know, …Reckon, ...Yield—daily.

Know I was Crucified with Christ (v6) I have Died with Him (v8) I have been Resurrected with Him (v5)

Reckon myself Dead to sin (v11), Dead to the world (Gal 6:14) Alive to Christ (Rom 6:11)

Yield myself, my all, to God as resurrected with Christ, alive from the dead, to serve Him only!

17 6 August: Stop sinning! Pray “Lord, I know You also say to me: ‘Go, and sin no more’” Read Romans 7 and Psalm 78 Think + write Psalm 78 reveals a major problem in the Chris- tian life—the problem of turning back (v9) and continuing to sin (v17,32). This is a horrific, sad reality in many people’s lives. Worst of all is that it need NOT be so!!! Asaph said: “The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, (1)…………………………………..on the day of battle; (2) they did not keep God’s covenant and (3) refused to live by his law. They (4)……………………..what He had done”(v9). From what I have learned, I think people turn back because:  ……………………………………………………………………..  ……………………………………………………………………..  …………………………………………………………………….. It can also be because of (1) Unclear vision, (2) Unstable character (v18), (3) Unsure faith (v22), or (4) Unreliable commitment (v8). In spite of everything that God has done for His children, I read (v32) “they …………………………...…sinning”, “they ……………...…… to sin” (v17). Oh, how sad that is! May the Lord help us not to grieve Him in this way. I think when a person continues to sin, it is because:  ……………………………………………………………………..  …………………………………………………………………….  …………………………………………………………………….. Pastor Greg Denysschen said: “I’ll tell you why people persevere in sin—it’s because it’s in their heart… They still want to do that sin… They have not yet lost their appetite, their love for that sin….They are still big friends with it! They are still madly in love with it!” The Pu- ritan writer, Thomas Watson, said: “The viper (snake) of sin had pained them, yet they put it in their bosom again… It has exhausted their health; it has brought them in a prison and almost to hell, yet they sin still…”!!! He said: “A sinner is the greatest self-denier. For the love of sin, he will deny himself a part in heaven”, eternally! This is insanity. See 2 Chron 28:22 & John 5:14. At one stage, Paul had the same struggle with sin. See Romans 7:14-25. Pray “Father, ‘Keep me from turning back, the handles of my plow with tears are wet; the shears with rust are spoiled, and yet, and yet, my God, keep me from turning back’”!!! Go + Do what will help me to stop sinning against God. 18 HIV

Highjack19 RETROVIRUS

Multiplies IN cells Mutates (changes) rapidly all the time Minute (invisible to normal eye) Minimal “brains” or genetic material: 100 000x smaller than in human cell MUST find a cell that has a RECEPTOR for it...! Must highjack to multiply Murders the cells that accept it Mission: enter, highjack, multiply, escape, murder Method: a RETRO-virus REVERSES the usual flow of genetic information... It works BACKWARDS... It is a typical BACKSLIDER...

20 REPLICATION The STEPS followed by HIV

1. Enters person 2. Attachment to receptor 3. Penetration of CD4 cell 4. Uncoating 5. Reverse transcription of single stranded RNA 6. Double DNA made 7. Migration to “brain” nucleus of CD4 cell 8. Integration: DNA of HIV + DNA of cell becomes ONE! 9. Viral transcription or “gene expression” (virus writes it’s characteristics on brain and forms new RNA) 10. Building new HIV “babies”: protein synthesis 11. Assembly 12. Release from CD4 cell 13. CD4 cell DIES... 14. Matures 15. Enters other CD4 cell... 16. Repeats process!

MILLIONS OF NEW HIVS ARE MADE EVERY DAY...!

21 SIN works like HIV...

 It tries to ENTER me - through my ears, eyes, feelings or thoughts...  It is MINUTE... It is very SMALL...  It can’t be SEEN at first...  It looks for a RECEPTOR in me to get ATTACHED to me  I am supposed to KILL it, but it starts to kill ME... (CD4)  Once the receptor RECEPTED it, it PENETRATES deeper into me...  It then unclothes itself, exposes itself more and more, ...and starts to make itself more PRESENTABLE to my brain (the nucleus of the cell)...  It does it through BACKWARD MASKING (reverse transcriptase)..., just as messages are conveyed through pop music...  It INTEGRATES and becomes ONE with the MIND of the person  The person (the CD4 cell), which was supposed to help KILL it, now starts to REPRODUCE many HIVs (SINs)  The person now RELEASES the SINs and infects many other cells (persons) with the same SINs...  OTHERS become INFECTED by he SINs (the HIVs)...  They go through the same process...  In the end: the BODY dies... The SCHOOL dies... The FAMILY dies... The CHURCH dies! There is only ONE REMEDY...

COME to the LORD JESUS CHRIST...! CONFESS your SINS… REPENT... BELIEVE in Him… HE can and will save you! SIN shall NOT have dominion over you any more (Romans 6:14)

22 7 August: How to stop sinning! Pray “Lord, thank You for making a Way and for showing it to me” Read Romans 8:1-18 and Psalm 79-81 Think + write At one stage in his life, Paul said: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature...For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing…”(Rom 7:18a,19). “I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned… When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. Now if I am doing what I don’t want to do, it is plain where the trouble is: sin still has me in its evil grasp… but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me…” (v18,19,20,23;LB). This has been my experience too. The question is: “Is it still my experience, or did I find the way out?” Paul cried out: “Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature?” (v24;LB). “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me…?”(NIV). Then I read the answer to this most important question: “THANKS BE TO GOD— THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!” You may ask: “But how?” We find the Answer in Romans 8:  “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Je- sus”(v1)  “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin…”(8:2;7:23). “The power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death” (LB).  “God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son ...and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.” (v3;LB)  “So now we can obey God’s laws if we are led by the Holy Spirit…” (v4;LB) and “through the power of the Holy Spirit” (who now lives in us - v11) we kill the evil desires and misdeeds of the sinful nature (v13). In short: I am freed from the tyranny of sin through (1) the Sacrifice of Christ and through (2) the Spirit of God’s life in me. Hallelujah! Pray “Father, thank You!” Go + Do abide in Christ, and live by and be led by the Spirit.

23 8 August: The Spirit of Christ Pray “Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit’s work, also in me!” Read Romans 8:19-39 and Psalm 82-84 Think + write God says: “With honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (Psalm 81:16). This means……………….……………… …………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………(See Psalm 19:10, Ex 16:31 and 1 Co 10:4) Those people are blessed “whose strength is in You, who set their hearts on pilgrimage” (Ps 84:5), and “who trusts in You” (v12). God says: “No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless”(v11). Dr Hudson Taylor said: “If potential missionaries don’t mean to ’walk blamelessly’ they had better stay at home.” Psalm 84:10 is put beautifully in The Message translation: “One day spent in your house, ...beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.”

I learn about the beautiful Christ-glorifying ministry of the Holy Spirit of God in Romans 8. There I see that:  Since, as a born-again child of God, I now belong to Christ, the Spirit of Christ lives in me (v9,11).  As a son (and daughter) of God I am led by the Spirit of God (v14)  Through the Holy Spirit I now put to death the evil deeds prompted by the body (v13) and have victory.  The Spirit of God enables me to say and pray to God (v15): “Abba, Father”! This means I can now say to God: “Dear, Father!”  The Spirit testifies with my spirit that I am a child of God (v16)  The Spirit of God helps me in my weakness (v26) and “in our daily problems and in our praying” (LB).  The Spirit of God intercedes for me (v26)  “God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go” (v14;MSG) Pray and Go + Do as George MacDonald when he prayed: “O Christ, my life, possess me utterly. Take me and make a little Christ of me. If I am anything but thy father's son, 'Tis something not yet from the darkness won. Oh, give me light to live with open eyes. Oh, give me life to hope above all skies. Give me thy spirit to haunt the Father with my cries.” 24 9 August: God works... Pray “Lord, thank You for always working!” Read Romans 9 and Psalm 85-87 Think + write From Romans 8:28 “we know that in all things GOD WORKS for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This is most amazing! It means that……………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Some of the things that happened in my life that seemed to be for the worse, and that was actually bad, are:  ……………………………………………………………….  ……………………………………………………………….  ………………………………………………………………. Now, the Word of God says: “...in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…” This means, even in these bad things HE WORKS for the good. He did not cause the bad things, He did not will these bad things, He does not approve of any sin, but the truth is: in all things HE WORKS for the good of those who love Him...

Furthermore, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”(8:31,32), including the Holy Spirit?! (Luk11:13). “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (v8:37). “Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us”, and “...nothing can ever separate us from His love” (v38;LB). Isn’t this wonderful?!

With the Psalmist I can pray to God: “Will You not REVIVE US again, that your people may rejoice in You?” (Ps 85:6). To be Revived means:………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………….. This Revival comes from:……………………………………………… Those who need Revival are:…………………………………...……… The purpose of the needed Revival is that:…………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………. Pray “Father, will You not revive us AGAIN…?!” Go + Do what is needed for God to revive us again. 25 Oh Lord, will You not revive us again?! Psalm 85:6

The Valley full of Dry Bones… Ezekiel 37 26 10 August: Saving Faith Pray “Lord, all my fountains are in You.” Read Romans 10 and Psalm 88, 89 Think + write By God’s grace I can say with the Psalmist (Ps 87:7b): “All my fountains are in You”, “All my springs are in You!” To me this means that………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. God is like a Fresh Fountain to me, like a Secure Supply, like a Con- stant Flow… He never fails, He never dries up, He never disappoints! But, sadly true, He said: “My people have committed two sins: (1) They have forsaken Me, the Spring (the Fountain) of living water, and (2) have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jer 2:13). Everything that can be offered to me by this world, or by any human being, or by Satan, is like a broken pot that cannot hold the water and cannot give a fresh supply. In actual fact, what this world offers is sewerage water… ; even if it is offered in a silver cup or by the hand of the most seemingly beautiful or innocent person…

In Psalm 89 Ethan said that there is no one like the Lord God Al- mighty. He said: God is my Father (v26); God is my Savior (v26); God is my Rock (v26); and God is the One who calms the surging sea (v9), also in my mind and life.

Concerning True Salvation, I read in Romans 10 that:  “Everyone who Calls on the name of the Lord will be Saved” (v13)  But, one can only truly call on Him if one Believes in Him (v14)  And one can only truly believe if one has Heard the Message (v17a)  And the Message is only truly heard when one hears Him (“the word of Christ”) (v17). TRUE FAITH  Comes by hearing Him and hearing His Word (v17).  Purifies the heart (Acts 26:18;Ampl)  Overcomes the world (1 John 5:4)  Works by love (Gal 5:6)  Obeys God (Rom 1:5)… Is my faith like this?! Pray “Father, be my Fountain, always…” Go + Do bear the fruit of faith. 27

“High Father, Oh gather Thy sons and Thy daughters, Through fires and through waters, HOME to the nest Of Thy breast!”

“This is and has been the Father’s work from the beginning— to bring us into the Home of His heart”

George MacDonald

28 11 August: God is my Home! Pray “Lord, thank You that we can be at home in You only.” Read Romans 11:1-21 and Psalm 90-92 Think + write In the Bible, but especially in the Psalms, I see that God is my Home. I read, for instance:  “Lord, You have been our dwelling place…” (Ps 90:1)  “If you make the Most High your dwelling…” (Ps 91:9); “Yes..., ...God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home” (MSG).  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps 91:1)  “For in Him we live…” (Acts 17:28) - He is my Home! To me this means that:…………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. George MacDonald said: “Yea, no home at last will do, but the Home of God’s Heart.” “God’s thoughts, His will, His love, His judgments are all man’s home. To think His thoughts, to choose His will, to love His loves, to judge His judgments, and thus to know that He is in us, is to be at home.” “Where Jesus, the Son of God, is – there is my home!” “This is my quarrel with all those words and words and ar- guments and similies as they call them, and doctrines and all that – they just hold a poor body at arm’s length from God himself. And they raise a mist and a fog all about him, so that the poor creature cannot see the Father himself, standing with his arms stretched out as wide as the heavens, to take the worn creature – and the more sinner the more welcome home to His very heart.”

As I am at home in God and live in God, I learn to pray:  Teach me to number my days aright (90:12): Fear of God  Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love (v14): Fullness  May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us, establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” (90:17): Fruitfulness  May the righteous Flourish like the palm tree and grow like the ce- dar (92:12)  May they bear fruit in old age and stay Fresh and green (v14) Pray “Father, may we ALL find our rest and home in You alone.” Go + Do what’ll keep me under His wings, in Him. 29 12 August: The Remnant Pray “Lord, may we be part of Your remnant in the last days…” Read Romans 11:22-36 and Psalm 93-95 Think + write “How blessed the man you train, God, the woman you instruct in your Word, providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil” (Ps 94:12,13a;MSG). But then the Lord also asks: “Who will stand up for Me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for Me against evildoers?” (v16). The things that help me to stand firm for the Lord are the following:  ……………………………………………………………………….  ……………………………………………………………………….  ………………………………………………………………………. In Psalm 95:3, in The Message translation, I read: “God is the best”!! Please see the notes on the following few pages. In Romans 11:22 the Lord says (through Paul): “Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don't presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you're out of there” (MSG).

In these dark days of wickedness and worldliness, it seems as if there are very few Christians who are on Fire for God and full of Faith. But God says: As in the days of Elijah, “so too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5)... . They are revived and they work on God’s house (Hag 1:12-14) . They do not bow to Baal, to the world spirit (1 Kings 19:18) . They are forgiven; their sins are washed away (Micah 7:18,19) . They have returned to the Lord (Isaiah 10:21) . They are no longer fascinated by Assyria (the world) . They do not rely on Assyria any more (Is 10:20) . They do no wrong, speak no lies, and are humble (Zeph 3:12-13) . “They’ll make their home in God” (Zeph 3:12;MSG) . They obey (Rev 12:17) and walk in holiness (Is 11:16;35:8-10) . They are fruitful and multiply (Jer 23:3) and break through (Mic 2) . They refresh the world like showers of rain (Micah 5:7,8;LB) Pray “Father, please keep us in Your hand.” Go + Do bear fruit upwards and roots downwards (Mic 2:12,13) 30 The Best!

Jesus is the Best! Is He my Best? Have I given Him my best? Do I do my best for Him? Looking at my life… is this the best Jesus can do for me?!

Jesus is the Best !

There’s no one like Jesus! He’s the Best! There’s no one who loves me like Him! There’s no one who knows me like Him. There’s no one who gives me pure peace and joy like Him. There’s no one who helps me like Him. He’s faithful, reliable, fair, never unjust, never sinful, always available, ever-ready (!), unbeatable, all powerful, all loving and lovable, spotless, unselfish, pure, perfect, patient - you name it! “He is altogether lovely” (SoS 5:16), “there is no flaw in Him” (SoS 4:7b). The question is: Can I say that…

Jesus is my Best

What is the best in my life? Is it Jesus? Who is the best in my life? Is it Jesus? Can it be that there’s someone or something that’s better to me than Jesus Himself? Asaph said: “Whom have I in heaven but YOU? And earth has nothing I desire besides YOU” (Ps 73:25)…

31 “there is NONE upon earth that I desire besides Thee” (KJV). Life is wonderful when we are able to say this every day.

In The Message translation of the Bible we read: “You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth!” Can I say this?! Is it really true in my life, or are there many things I want or desire—things of this world? Do I desire beauty? Or riches? Or clothes? Or jewelry? Or attention? Or fame? Or popularity? Or the lusts of the flesh? Or comfort? Or my own will? Or my plans, instead of His? Can I say: “Jesus, You’re my Best, You’re my All, always!!” What a Life! Once Jesus is my Best, I need to ask myself if…

I’ve given my best to Him

Since Jesus is my Best, the supernaturally natural thing to do is to give my best to Him, and NOT to sin (Prov 5:4) or satan. I now gladly give my best years to Him, literally. I eagerly give the best time of each day to Him - to be alone with Him, to sit at His feet and to listen to His voice, His words to me. I consciously, calculatingly and completely give my best abilities to Him - my strength, my youthfulness, my intel- lect, my voice, my hands, my body ...my heart, my love, my will, my future, my plans, my past, my present, my all! I read that I need to “bring the best… to the… Lord” (Ex 23:19a). This is what I do with all my heart, through His Spirit helping me. Another question I need to answer is: Can I say that…

I do my best for Him

In 2 Timothy 2:15 God says to me: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved…”; “concentrate on doing your best for God…” (The Message translation). I read in Col 4:17, “Do your best in the job you received from the Master. Do your very best” (The Message). This is what I want to do daily. I want to do my best for Jesus. I want to do the best I can (through His Spirit helping me) in my schoolwork, my homework, my tasks in the family, and my church and community. I want to do my best to obey God, flee from sin, hate evil, serve my parents and win others for Jesus. I want to do my best

32 to change the world I live in - to God’s glory. Since God gave His Best, the least I can do is to give my best to Him. “My utmost for His Highest” is how Oswald Chambers used to say it. I clearly understand that while I do my best, my best deeds “are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) before God ...if it is done through my own strength and efforts alone, or to my own glory. But, as I do my best in dependence upon His Spirit’s guidance and enablement, working out what he works in me, God, my heavenly Father, is very pleased (Phil 2:12 & 13). Fi- nally, as I look at my life - how I live, what I say and think and do - I need to ask myself…

Is this the best Jesus can do for me ?

I don’t want to be like the blind man who was helped by Jesus, but only half-way (initially)! He could now see a little bit, but not well (Mark 8:24). He still saw people as walking trees. No, Jesus can do better than that! But, he was testing this man to see if he would be satisfied with second-best or with Jesus’ Best. I need to remember, Jesus can and wants to do His Best in me and for me and through me.

Jeremiah saw the pot the potter “was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him” (Jer 18:4). “Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘O…………… (my name), can I not do with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord” (v5). Can I not touch you and form you again? Can I not do my best for you?!

When I look at my life I know that it is not the best Jesus can do for me. But, the problem is not with Him, it is with me. Therefore I listen and obey when he says (Jer 18:11), “So turn from your evil ways, each one of you…”; repent! When I am in His hands, allowing Him to cleanse me from all my sins and impurities, and to re-shape me, He can do it! He can and wants to do His best for me now - to His glory.

The Best is yet to be !

33 13 August: Serve the Lord! Pray “Lord, may Your glory fill the earth.” Read Romans 12 and Psalm 96-98 Think + write “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among the peoples” (96:3)… “Take the news of his glory to the lost, news of his wonders to one and all!” (MSG). Now, I need to ask myself: Do I do this or not?! Why not?! What does the Lord want me to do?! Then, do it! David said: “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps 96:9;Ampl). This means that, practically:  …………………………………………………………………..  …………………………………………………………………..  ………………………………………………………………….. In Psalm 98 we see*: What to sing (v1): a new song; How to sing (v4- 6); Why to sing (vv2,3,7,8); and When to sing (v9). And whenever I do not know what to sing about, just read Rom 11 v33-36, and I’ll have much to sing about, I’ll have Him to sing about!

Romans 12 begins to explain How I should live to serve the Lord. It starts by referring to*: A. The Believer and Self (v1-2) What I am to offer: Bodily dedication What I am to avoid: Worldly contamination (wrong pattern!) What I am to achieve: Godly transformation (renewed mind) B. The Believer and Service (v3-21) The grace (v3) The gifts (v4-8) The guidelines (v9-21): how to deal with friends and foes... The verse that stands out most (for me) is v11: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (NIV)… “Maintain the spiritual glow” (Moffat) …“Be aglow and burning with the Spirit…” (Ampl) - loving, serving, honoring, praying, blessing, sharing, hosting, rejoicing, mourning, overcoming, watching... Pray “Lord, may Your life be made visible amongst us!” Go + Do what is needed (in sacrificing and serving God). *Willmington 34 “Never be lacking in zeal, but KEEP your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (NIV)

“...be AGLOW and burning with the Spirit” (Ampl)

“Don’t burn out, keep yourselves fueled and aflame…” (MSG)

“Maintain the spiritual GLOW”! (Moffatt)

35 Go to God in prayer and read His Word Live in the Light… Live in Love Live in His presence (& spend time alone with Him) Live in Honesty and Humility Live a life of continual Repentance Do not allow the smallest sin to be un-confessed or un- repented of... Keep on Forgiving Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit Keep on leading others to Jesus... Deny Self and Die to Self Submit to God & Resist the devil and demons… Refuse to worry… Refuse to become discouraged Have faith in God...! Keep my eyes on Jesus…!

“Be earnest, earnest, earnest— Mad if thou wilt; Do what thou do’st as if the stake were Heaven, And that thy last deed before the Judgment Day.”

“Maintain the spiritual GLOW...” Rom 12:11

36 Be TRANSFORMED by Jesus!

37 The Metamorphosis - Transformation - of a Monarch Butterfly

Many animals experience an amazing transformation that re- futes evolution. One example is the Monarch butterfly.

As a 2-week-old caterpillar (left), it builds a cocoon or chrysalis around itself (center). Then its complex organs disintegrate completely into a thick pulplike liquid. From an evolution perspective, this should cause its extinction—a thousand times over.

Two weeks later, a beautiful butterfly emerges with completely different and even more remarkable ca- pabilities (right). Its food (what it takes in), habitat (where it lives and likes to be) and behavior (what it does and how it does it) is drastically, radically and completely different from before.

Some people might believe that a complex machine, such as a car, evolved by natural processes, but if they saw that machine disintegrate and quickly reemerge as an airplane, only the most naive and unscientific would still believe that natural processes could produce such marvelous designs.

This amazing change is NOT through natural efforts, but through a supernatural working of our wonderful God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! 38 “....Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14 & 15). The word “repent” in the Greek is μετανοέω (met-an-o-eh'-o), which is where the word metamorphosis come from... When Jesus came He said to unbelievers and believers alike: Repent! Change! Be changed! Be metamorphosed!

He repeated these words specifically to believers in Rom 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” (Ampl)

“Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (MSG)

“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.” (GNB)

In the Greek language the word “transformed” or “changed” is μεταμορφόω (met-am-or-fo'-o), which means to transform (literally or figuratively “metamorphose”): - change, transfigure, transform.

Non-Christians need to be transformed (metamorphosed) into Christians... and “Christians” need to be transformed (metamorphosed) into Christ’s image... 39 O God, please change me!

Transformed!

1. I loved to walk in the dirt 1. I love to fly in the clean air... 2. I loved to eat from the soil/leaves 2. I love to drink pure nectar... 3. I loved to crawl slowly 3. I love to move briskly... 4. I was pulled down to the ground 4. I find I have power to fly high... 5. I was ugly 5. I am not ugly any morel... 6. I destroyed tender plants 6. I never destroy tender plants... 7. I loved to destroy and eat fruits 7. I help to produce fruit...

1. I loved to listen to music that 1. I love to listen to music that made me think of girls/ boys makes me think of God 2. I loved to make myself attrac- 2. I love to make myself beautiful tive to others or to myself for Jesus 3. I liked sin 3. I now hate sin 4. I was a slave to sin; it controlled 4. I am now NOT a slave to sin; it me, it ruled me does NOT control me any more 5. I did not like to read the Bible 5. I love to read the Bible 6. I did not like to pray 6. I love it to talk to God and pray 7. I loved to be liked by others, 7. I love it when Jesus is pleased and to please others with me 8. I loved the things of the world 8. I love Jesus and am not inter- and did not love Jesus ested in the things of the world 9. I lived through my own efforts 9. I live through God’s strength 10. I was proud, selfish and un- 10. I am humbled, unselfish and so thankful thankful to God and others 11. I ran from God 11. I run to God for help 12. I tried to change myself 12. God changed me 40 14 August: Wake up! Pray “Lord, Your will and Your ways are always the best.” Read Romans 13 and Psalm 99-102 Think + write Romans 13 describes... My duties toward the Rulers of the State (v1-7) What I am to do (v1,6,7): submit, pay taxes, give respect... Why I am to do it (v2-5): because of God’s power behind them. My duties toward the Rest of the State (v8-14) Continue to Love (v8-10) with God’s love. Continue to Look for the Lord’s return (v11-14) When God says: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing au- thorities” (13:1), it means……………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. Does it mean that I should always submit? Explain:………………….. …………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………...……..(Also see Acts 5:29) “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another” (v8a) means that…………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. “Do not covet”...; “Don’t always be wanting what you don’t have”(v9) “Wake up from your slumber…”(v11); “Be up and awake to what God is doing,… We can’t afford to waste a minute...Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!” (MSG). To me, this means that I..…………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. “The Lord reigns”!! (Ps 99:1). In Psalm 100 the following is revealed: God is the Song (v1,2), we are his singers. God is the Creator (v3), we are his creation. God is the Shepherd (v3), we are his sheep. God is the Blessed One (v4), we are his blessed ones. God is Love (v5), we are his loved ones. Psalm 101 describes David’s Witness about God (v1), his Walk with God (v2-7), and his Warfare for God (v8). Pray “Father, may our Walk, Witness & Warfare be to Your glory.” Go + Do wake up, show up and make up—until He comes. 41

We are God’s chosen people, not frozen people. Let’s pray for a defrost George Verwer

There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things...

D.L. Moody

Be burning for Jesus in everything I do. Be burning by His Holy Spirit (Rom 12:11)

43 TELEVISION - what does God say?!

“I will be careful to lead a blameless life ...I will walk in my house with Devil blameless heart. I will set before my vision eyes NO vile thing” (Ps 101:2-3), “I will set NO wicked thing before my eyes” (v3;KJV)

“I will have NOTHING to do with evil” (v4)

“We can’t afford to waste a minute” (Rom 13)

The world is about to burn… and Christians sit before their speaking idol, their Babylonian idiot box, wasting precious time and losing their love and zeal for God... and sinning!

Through TV the sodomites and adulterers and murder- ers and scoffers and liars come INSIDE the house!

Remember, there’s a demon behind this idol…!

Do NOT bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be cursed like it. Utterly abhor and de- test it, for it is a cursed thing (set apart for destruction). Deut 7:26 (NIV;KJV).

Also see Phil 4:8; Eph 5:14-16; James 4:3,4; 1 John 2:15 -17 and Hosea 14:8.

44 15 August: Psalm 103 Pray “Lord, please make this Psalm a reality to us all.” Read Romans 14 and Psalm 103,104 Think + write Psalm 103 is a glorious song! David said: “Praise the Lord, O my soul” (v1)…for:  He forgives all my sins (v3)  He heals all my diseases (v3)  He redeems my life from the pit (v4)  He crowns me with love and compassion (v4b)  He satisfies my desires with good things (v5)  He renews my youth like an eagle’s… (v5)  He does not treat me as my sins deserve (v10)  He has removed my transgressions from me as far as the east is from the west!! (v12). Hallelujah!  He has compassion on me, as a Father has compassion on his children (v13), for He knows that I am dust (v14). As I reflect on this, all I can say is…………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Furthermore, “He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes...flames of fire his servants.” (Ps 104:3,4). He makes “his ministers a flaming fire” (KJV).

God says to me: “Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Rom 13:14b). In John MacArthur’s words: “Make no preparations for the possibility of sin”!! This is as clear as daylight! My whole life is just to “live to the Lord” (Rom 14:8). Watchman Nee’s motto was: “I want nothing for myself; I want everything for the Lord.”

“Everything that does not come from faith is sin…” (Rom 14:23). This is a soul-shaking statement. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G that does not come from faith is SIN. Faith is to hear the word of God and to do it, in loving, trusting obedience. This means that, IF, while I’m doubting if something is right or not, I go ahead and do it anyway, I sin… Doubtful actions are sinful…! Pray “Father, please lead me in Your will” Go + Do it. 45 “I will set NO wicked thing before my eyes”

Psalm 101:3

These games come from Satan’s toilet...

46 Godless Games

Defile

Bind

Addict

47 16 August: Look to the Lord... Pray “Lord, I want to follow You and not man or methods.” Read Romans 15:1-20 and Psalm 105,106 Think + write Some of the principles that Paul emphasized as a missionary in God’s service were: . Those who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak (v1) . We should live “not to please ourselves” (v1b) . Our emphasis is on following Jesus Christ (v5b) . And on glorifying God (v6), . As we seek to maintain the spirit of unity among ourselves (v5) . Accepting one another (v7) . Proclaim the Good News of God, not religion (v16); proclaim Christ, not Christianity! . Our service is primarily to God and not to people (v17) . We work and speak “through the power of the Spirit” (v19) . “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known…”!! (v20) I need to “Look to the Lord and His strength”; and “seek His face always” (Ps 105:4). This means that……………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………… Many of the children of God failed, because  They soon forgot what God had done for them (v13a)  They did not wait for His counsel (v13b)  They gave in to their craving (v14)  They put God to the test, they tempted God (v14)  They asked with wrong motives (v15)  They did not believe His promise (v24)  They grumbled in their tents (v25) & did not obey the Lord (v25)  They rebelled against the Spirit of God (v33)  They mingled with the nations (v35); Etc…. As a result, God sent a “wasting disease” upon them (v15,43). In cen- tral Africa AIDS is also called “wasting disease”… From all of this I learn that………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………… Pray “Father, teach me to wait for Your counsel” Go + Do it... 48 17 August: Pray! Pray “Lord, teach me to pray.” Read Romans 15:21-33 and Psalm 107,108 Think + write In Psalm 107 we meet people who encountered different problems, and we see how God dealt with each one… 1. Some wandered away from God and became desperately thirsty and hungry and weak (v4-5); 2. Some were enslaved and imprisoned, and suffered exceed- ingly (v10-12); 3. Some became very sick due to their foolish ways (v17-18); 4. Some encountered severe storms in their business ventures and were at their wits’ end (v23-27). All of them reached a stage of which it is written: “THEN they cried to the Lord in their trouble…”, they prayed (v6,13,19,28)… “and He saved them from their distress” (v13,19), delivered them (v6) and brought them out (v28). From this I learn that………………………… ………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………….. The Bible says He answered their prayers... He led the wanderers (v7) He broke the chains and brought them out (v14) He sent forth His word and healed them (v20) He stilled the storm to a whisper (v29) Each time the people were told: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love” (v8,15, 21,31). In summary:

Problems  Prayer  Proven love (wisely answered prayers)

In Psalm 108 David says: “My heart is steadfast, O God” (v1a); “I will awaken the dawn” (v2b) “The help of man is worthless” (v12b) “With God we will gain the victory…” (v13) While this is true, I see that I also need to pray for others. “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Rom 15:30). Pray “Father-God, I praise You, Your works are wonderful” Go + Do what David said he’ll do—awaken the dawn...daily. 49 18 August: Stand up and Share... Pray “Lord, there is no one like You!” Read Romans 16 and Psalm 109-111 Think + write David says: “I am a man of prayer” (Ps 109:4b). Can I say “I am a man of prayer”, or “I am a woman of prayer”? If not, “Why not?”, and “What am I going to do about it?”: …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Delitzsch translates that verse as: “I am a prayer”!! My life is a prayer… Is it? Am I a prayer? In Psalm 110 the Lord Jesus Christ is depicted in a fivefold light: He is God (v1) - is He God in my life? He is King (v2-3) - is He King in my life? He is Priest (v4) - is He Priest in my life? He is Judge (v6) - is He Judge in my life? He is the Victorious Warrior (v5,6-7) - is He the Victorious Warrior in my life? The Psalmist says:  “I want to express publicly before His people my heartfelt thanks to God for His mighty miracles” (Ps 111:1;LB) in my life. This is a sign that the Lord really did something for someone—when they are eager to even publicly express their thankfulness to the Lord, and in that way give Him all the glory… Am I like this? Yes / No  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 111:10) and the beginning of knowledge (Pro 1:7). “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” (Pro 8:13). To fear the Lord will bring health to my body and nourishment to my bones (Pro 3:8). I need to choose to fear the Lord (Pro 1:29) and to seek it seriously (See Pro 2:1-5). Of the 26 Christian brothers and sisters to whom Paul sends his greet- ings, consider the characteristics of the following few: Phoebe—a servant of the church (Rom 16:1) Priscilla and Aquila—they risked their lives for me (v4) Apelles—tested and approved in Christ (v10) Persis—who has worked very hard in the Lord (v12) Rufus’ mother—who has been a mother to me (v13) Pray + Go + Do spread the Good News “so that all nations might believe and obey Him” (Rom 16:26).

50 “I am... a man of prayer”

Psalm 109:4

“I am... a prayer”

51 What a man is on his knees before God, that he is—and nothing more... Robert Murray M’Cheyne

The great tragedy of life is not un-answered prayer, but un-offered prayer F.B. Meyer

No man is greater than his prayer life Leonard Ravenhill

I am convinced that nothing in Christianity is so rarely attained as a praying heart Charles G. Finney

Prayer is the pulse of life Andrew Murray

True prayer is born out of brokenness Frances J. Roberts

52 The Passion of Prayer The Lord Jesus Himself... HE is my Passion... The Holy Spirit of Prayer... He helps me to pray... The Purpose of Prayer To know God & to make Him known To glorify Him & to expand His kingdom To find out & do His will—with joy The Product of Prayer Prayer alters ME Prayer alters OTHERS Prayer alters CIRCUMSTANCES through me The Place of Prayer In the “secret place” (in private) In the body of Christ, with other pure believers In public—with or without other believers In Him—anywhere, everywhere... The Pattern of Prayer As Jesus taught us in the “Our Father...” He is my Pattern Adoration—Confession—Thanksgiving—Supplication Sundays: Sinners; Mondays: Missionaries; Tuesdays: Thanksgiving; Wednesdays: Workers; Thursdays: Tasks; Fridays: Families; Saturdays: Saints... (e.g.) The Posture of Prayer Physically: Standing, or sitting, or lying down, or walking; with head bowed or lifted up, with eyes closed or open, with hands raised, or folded, or busy working ...but pure! Spiritually: Submission, bowed before God, respect, etc. The Partners in Prayer The Holy Spirit helps me to pray Those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart Prayer triplets... 3 believers praying together regularly The Pitfalls of Prayer Procrastination Pride or Presumption Passivity (laziness or lack of watching & praying) Pollution—by sin of any kind or degree Pretending or “Put-on” in any way... Promises of/for Prayer Matt 7:7,8 Ask and it will be given to you...Mark 11:22-24 Matt 18:19,20... John 15:7... 1 John 5:14,15... 53 19 August: He is my Righteousness! Pray “Lord, Your Presence is all we need.” Read 1 Corinthians 1 and Psalm 112-115 Think + write Psalm 113 shows the Majesty (v1-6) and the Mercy of the Lord (v7-9), while Psalm 114 describes how God brought the Israelites Out of the land of Bondage (v1-3,5), and Into the land of Blessing (v3,4,5-8). The Psalmist says, “The presence of the Lord ...turned ...the hard rock into springs of water” (Ps 114:8). Even as far as people are concerned, the Presence of the Lord can turn the hardest “rock” into springs of living water! It happened in my life! He also says: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us ...but to Your name be the glory…” (Ps 115:1). May it always be like this in my life.

Paul says he was “chosen by God to be Jesus Christ’s missionary” (1 Co 1:1;LB). Verses 8, 9 and 30 are precious. In the Amplified version it reads: “And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, ... so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship (fellowship - NIV) and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” “He is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord” (LB). From this I learn that: . God is faithful ! . He will keep me to the end ! . He called me into fellowship with his Son ! “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1:30). HE is now my righteousness, HE is now my holiness, HE is now my redemption, HE is now my Life, my All-in-all...! . Through Him, by His working and through His doing… I am in Christ Jesus!! My response to these truths is:…………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Pray “Father, thank You that through You I am in Christ Jesus!” Go + Do what He in me indicates...

54 Jehovah Tsidkenu

"THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (The watchword of the Reformers)

I once was a stranger to grace and to God, I knew not my danger, and felt not my load; Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree, Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to sooth or engage, Isaiah's wild measure and John's simple page; But e'en when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree Jehovah Tsidkenu seem'd nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll, I wept when the waters went over His soul; Yet thought not that my sins had nail'd to the tree Jehovah Tsidkenu - 'twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high, Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die; No refuge, no safety in self could I see, - Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name; My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free, - Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast, Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne'er can be lost; In thee I shall conquer by flood and by field, My cable, my anchor, my breast-plate and shield!

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death, This "watchword" shall rally my faltering breath; For while from life's fever my God sets me free, Jehovah Tsidkenu, my death song shall be.

Robert Murray M‘Cheyne (1813-1843); November 18, 1884.

Cawood’s Outline of the 1st letter to the Corinthians

Division in the church (1:1-4:21) Men and divisions (1:1-17) Wisdom and division (1:18-3:4) Judgment and divisions (3:5-23) The apostle and division (4:1-21) Discipline and the church (ch 5-6) Regarding immorality (ch 5) Regarding civil affairs (6:1-8) Regarding social affairs (6:9-20) Difficulties in the church (7:1-14:40) Marriage (ch 7) Things sacrificed to idols (ch 8-10) The Lord’s Supper (ch 11) Spiritual gifts (ch 12-14) Doctrine in the church (ch 15-16) The Gospel (15:1-11) The resurrection (15:12-58) The offering (16:1-24)

Main Message

How to live a holy life in an unholy world and an imperfect church… In such a way that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Main problems

Idolatry & Immorality & I-dolatry

56 20 August: “My” Psalm Pray “Lord, thank You for saving me and setting me free!!” Read 1 Corinthians 2 and Psalm 116-118 Think + write I call Psalm 116 “my Psalm”, because it speaks of so many things that was and is true in my own life. In The Message translation I read:  “I love God” (v1)  “Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels…”(v3)  “I didn’t know which way to turn…”(v3)  “Then I called out to God for help: ‘Please, GOD!’ I cried out. ‘Save my life!’”(v4)  “When I was at the end of my rope, He saved me…”(v6)  “What can I give back to GOD for the blessings He's poured out on me?”(v12)  “I'll lift high the cup of salvation...I'll pray in the name of GOD….I'll complete what I promised GOD I'd do, ...and I'll do it together with his people”(v13,14)  “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death…”(Ps 118:17,18)  “Oh, GOD, here I am, your servant, ...set me free for your service!” (Ps 116:16)  “Hallelujah!”(v19) When I read Psalm 116, the following things come to mind:………….. ………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………….. Paul said to the Corinthians: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except…………………………..……...and…………..… …………………………………” (1 Co 2:2). This means:…………… ………………………………………………………………………….. He said: We have received “the Spirit who is from God” (2:12)  That “we may understand what God has freely given us” (v12)  That we may speak words taught by the Spirit of God (v13)  That the Spirit of God may reveal to us (v10) what “God has pre- pared for those who love Him” (v9). Pray “Father, may Your Spirit work in us and in our midst.” Go + Do what He reveals and leads me to do. 57 21 August: Spiritual Men & Women Pray “Lord, may we all become spiritual men and women…” Read 1 Corinthians 3 and Psalm 119:1-48 Think + write In 1 Corinthians 2 & 3 we read of three types of men and women:  The “carnal” or worldly or fleshly (Gr:“sarkikos”) person: 1 Co 3:1. A Fleshly person is controlled and ruled by his/her body and by what the body desires. This could be the desire for food or rest or sleep or any physical pleasure.  The “natural” or soulish (Gr: “psuchikos”) person: 1 Co 2:14. A Soulish person is controlled and ruled and influenced by what he/ she feels or thinks or decides by themselves. If they do anything, based on their emotions or impressions or thoughts or judgments or opinions or own will, then they are acting according to the psychological (the soulish) aspect of man—they are soulish.  The “spiritual” (Gr: “pneumatikos”) person: 1 Co 2:15;3:1. A Spiritual person is ruled by the Spirit of God indwelling in their spirit. They do not act according to what their bodies want, nor according to what they feel or think or prefer or will, but they act according to what the Spirit of God wants them to do. They walk, not according to the flesh, nor the soul, but according to the Spirit. At this particular time in my life I am best described as a person who is …………………………………..I say this because …………….…. …………………………………………………………………………. Furthermore, God asks (1 Co 3:16): “Don’t you know that  you yourselves are God’s temple and that  God’s Spirit lives in you?” Because this is true in my life, it means that…………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. David said: “I seek You with all my heart…” (Ps 119:10), and: . “I have hidden Your Word in my heart…” (v11) . “I meditate on” Your Word… (v15) . “I will not neglect Your Word…” (v16b) I can keep my way pure by……………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………(Ps 119:9) Pray “Father, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your Word” (Ps 119:18). Then Go + Do it... 58 O Lord, it is Time to Turn the Tide...!

The Turn of the Tide

This is my prayer,59 Lord The Conquering Tide

On the far reef the breakers Recoil in shattered foam, Yet still the sea behind them Urges its forces home; Its chant of triumph surges Through all the thunderous din - The wave may break in failure, But the tide is sure to win.

O mighty sea, thy message In changing spray is cast: Within God's plan of progress It matters not at last How wide the shores of evil, How strong the reefs of sin - The wave may be defeated, But the tide is sure to win.

Reefs of sin

Shores of evil SHALL be overcome

Rocks of opposition

61 “The hand of GOD is raised in victory! The hand of GOD has turned the tide!" Psalm 118:16 MSG The turning of the tide comes through the Presence & Fullness of the Holy Spirit of God. He determines the conquering tide...

God rules the tides Of the mighty sea; God will never fail; He guides me.

God’s behind the storm Lashing up the sea; God’s within the calm; He loves me.

Though I may forget, He loves faithfully: Always God goes on Loving me. Amma

Oh Lord, please TURN THE TIDE in me. Make all to see You give us the Victory!

62 22 August: The Wonderful Word of God! Pray “Lord, thank You for Your Word!!” Read 1 Corinthians 4 and Psalm 119:49-104 Think + write It is wonderful that each and everyone of the 176 verses in Psalm 119 speak about the Word of God! As recorded in The New Living Translation, David calls it: God’s law or laws, God’s decrees, God’s light, God’s principles, God’s commands or commandments, God’s rules, God’s ways, God’s statutes, and God’s judgments or decisions.

Some of the treasure verses in the section for today are the following:  “You are my portion, O Lord…” (v57)  “I have sought Your face with all my heart…” (v58)  “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word…”(v67); “...now I’m in step with Your word” (MSG)  “My troubles turned out all for the best—they forced me to learn from Your textbook…” (v71;MSG)  “The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold…” (v72)  “May Your unfailing love be my comfort…” (v76)  “In Your great love revive me so I can alertly obey Your every word…” (v88;MSG)  “Save me, for I am Yours…” (v94a)  “I’m only concerned with Your plans for me…”(v95;MSG)  “Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long” (v97)  “I’ve become wiser…simply by doing what You tell me” (v99; MSG - The Message Translation)  “I have kept my feet from every evil path…” (v101)

Paul reminds me in 1 Corinthians 4:5 that  God “will bring to light what is HIDDEN in darkness”  God “will expose the MOTIVES of men’s hearts…” From this I learn that…………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Pray “Father, may we all continue to live in Your light.” Go + Do what is written in God’s Word. 63 23 August: Word or Wickedness? Pray “Lord, I choose Your Word above any form of Wickedness.” Read 1 Corinthians 5 and Psalm 119:105-176 Think + write Some more Precious Portions from Psalm 119:  “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (v105)  “My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end” (v112)  “The unfolding of Your words gives light…” (v130)  “Direct my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me…” (v133)  “I rise before dawn and cry for help…” (v147)  “My heart trembles at Your word…” (v161)  “Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble…” (v165)  “Deliver me according to Your promise…” (v170)  “Let me live that I may praise You…” (v175) What stands out for me from these verses is that………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. God urged the Christians in the church of Corinth, as well as the Chris- tians in our day and age, to get rid of any Polluting Practices (1 Co 5:7) in their fellowship. He spoke about pride, passivity (v2), malice, wickedness (v8) and sexual immorality (v1). He said that such sins (if not stopped) will, like just a little yeast, work through the whole batch of dough (v6). Yeast and Sin work Secretly, Silently, Steadily, Surely, and Spreadingly… Whenever there’s sin in the fellowship, whatever the sin may be, God says:  Get rid of it! (v7a);  Grieve because of it (v2); Practice the needed church discipline and  Expel the unrepentant Christian from the fellowship (v13) and hand him over to Satan (v5), “so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved” (v5). Also see Matt 18:15-20.  Do NOT associate with “anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat” (v11). From this I learn that…………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. Pray “Father, may our fellowship stay pure — for Your Name’s sake. May we all daily Go + Do what will keep it free from sin.” 64

David said: “I have hidden Your Word in my HEART that I might not sin against You” (Ps 119:11).

I feed on God’s Word by

H : Hearing His Word

E : Examining and Eating His Word

A : Applying and DOING His Word

R : Reading & Remembering His Word

T : Thinking on His Word

...DAILY

The whole of Christian living, in my opinion, hinges on the way

in which Christian people read the Bible for themselves… We

may measure our growth in grace by the growth of our love for private Bible study; and we may be

sure that there is something seriously wrong, when we lose our

appetite for the Bread of Life...

He said:

1. Make TIME for Bible study 2. Look up for the teaching of the HOLY SPIRIT 3. Read the Bible METHODICALLY 4. Read the Bible with your PEN in hand 5. Seek eagerly your PERSONAL profit 6. Above all, turn from the printed page Dr FB Meyer to PRAYER

1. Read

2. Repeat (Re-phrase) 3. Reflect (meditate/think/study) 4. Research (study) 5. Record 6. Remember (memorize) 7. Relate (share) 8. Respond (PRAY + obey!)

Revelation!

Apply

Apply James 1:22; Matt 7:21

68 The power of our spiritual life will be according to the measure of the room that the Word if God takes up in our life and in our thoughts. After an experience of fifty-four years, I can solemnly declare this. For three years after my conversion I used the Word little. Since that time I searched it with diligence, and the blessing was wonderful. From that time, I have read the Bible through a hundred times in order, and at every time with increasing joy. Whenever I start afresh with it, it appears to me as a new book. I cannot express how great the blessing is of faithful, daily, regular searching of the Bible. The day is lost for me on which I have used no rounded time for enjoying the Word of God.

“Friends sometimes say: ‘I have so much to do that I can find no time for regular Bible study.’ I believe that there are few that have to work harder than I have. Yet it remains a rule with me never to begin my work until I have had real sweet fellowship with God. After that I give myself heartily to the business of the day – that is, to God’s works, with only inter- vals of some minutes for prayer.”

George Mueller

69 Is “My” Body Mine or God’s?!

Why do I grow “my” nails? to glorify Jesus or Me? Why?! to please Him or myself? Why do I grow sideburns? Why do I wear earrings?

to glorify Jesus? to glorify Me? to please Jesus? Why?! to please Me? Why do I curl or gel “my” Why?! hair? Why do I open “my” hair? ...to glorify Jesus or my genes? Why do I pluck my eyebrows? Why do I paint “my” lips or eye- lashes? “Jezebel...painted her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.” (2 Kings 9:30) Why do I wear a nose-ring? Why?! “You are not your own… therefore, glorify God in your body” 1 Co 6:19,20 (Ampl;KJV) 70 24 August: “My” Body is God’s! Pray “Lord, thank You that I am Yours!” Read 1 Corinthians 6 and Psalm 120-123 Think + write People often quote Matt 7:1, which says: “Do not judge”, but they rarely (if ever) mention that God also says:  “Make a right judgment” (John 7:24); “judge righteous judgment” (KJV)  “Are you not to judge those inside” the fellowship? (1 Co 5:12)  “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (6:2)  “Do you not know that we will judge the angels?” (6:3) These truths teach me that……………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………….. As far as MY BODY is concerned, God teaches me that  My body is for the Lord (1 Co 6:13)  My body is NOT meant for sexual immorality (v13). Flee from it!  The Lord is for my body (v13)  My body is a member of Christ himself! (v15)  My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in me! (v19)  My body belongs to God! (v19,20)  My body should honor God and not myself (v20) To me, this means that…………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. I should therefore ask myself:  Can I paint and pierce (just as I like) that which is not mine?! NO!  Can I use “my” eyes (which belong to God) to look at unclean things?!  Can I abuse what is not mine—for sinful “pleasure”?!  Can I allow others to abuse it?! NO! It is the Lord’s!  Can I damage what is God’s by overeating, smoking, drinking, doing drugs, getting HIV, putting tattoos, or ...neglect (through, for instance, not brushing my teeth, not keeping clean, not getting ex- ercise, oversleeping, not putting on my safety belt while driving in the car, etc.)... Pray “Father, help me to glorify You with ‘my’ body.” Go + Do it - God’s way! 71 25 August: Single & Satisfied! Pray “Lord, like You, I can be single and satisfied. Hallelujah!” Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 and Psalm 124-127 Think + write God speaks so clearly to me about singleness and marriage in 1 Corinthians 7. He says:  “It is good for a man not to marry” (v1)  “Now to the unmarried… I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am” (v8)  “Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife” (v27); do not look for a husband!  “But each man has his own gift from God”; one has this gift (of singleness), another has that (of marriage) (v7). Whatever gift God gives, that’s the one for me to receive wholeheartedly. Whatever gift God gives is good! If God gives me the gift of singleness, I’ll be single; If God gives me the gift of a wife, I’ll have a wife. Whatever He chooses, I choose.  The time is short (v29). Be concerned about the Lord’s affairs; Be concerned about how I can please Him (v32)  My aim is to “be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit” (v34) with an “undivided devotion” (v35)  “But if you do marry, you have not sinned...But those who marry will face many troubles in this life” (v28)  To those who are led by God to get married, He says: “Do NOT be yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Co 6:14 and 7:39b). Anyone who dares to ignore this non-negotiable will suffer sorely, if not loose their soul! Is disobedience not a soul-damning sin?!  Once married, “a woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives” (v39). “A wife must not separate from her husband” (v10), “and a husband must not divorce his wife” (v11). Divorce is sin. As far as this very important matter of marriage or singleness is concerned, God has put the following on my heart:………………. ……………………………………………………………………… This decision is made ...NOT by following my Flesh (including my eyes), nor my Feelings (of “concern” or “love”), nor my Friends (and their opinions or pressures), nor my Family (and their customs), but by being led by my Father in heaven!

Pray “Father, may only Your will be done” Go + Do it. 72 26 August: Songs of Climbing! Pray “Lord, may I die climbing…” Read 1 Co 7:25-40 and Psalm 128-131 Think + write Psalms 120-134 are called “Songs or Psalms of Ascents”, ...of going higher. They were possibly sung when people went up to Jerusalem, which is built on the heights and surrounded by mountains. They can also be called “Songs of Climbing” or “Songs for Climbing”; ...to be sung as we go UP to higher planes and UP to our heavenly home, the new Je- rusalem. They reveal some steps or principles of what it takes to go higher with God, to rise from the valleys and depths of despair, depres- sion and darkness… God wants us to walk on the heights (Hab 3:19) to His glory. Through these climbing Psalms I also learn that climbing is not a time for complaining, but for singing!

In Psalm 120, we see David  Distressed by how others treat him and want to fight (v1,2,7)  Desperate as he cries out to God for help (v2); but in it all his  Direction is toward the Lord (v2). He cried to the Lord… Often, in the life of a climbing Christian, it is through Distress that we become Desperate and change our Direction, back to the Lord himself. In James 4:8-10 I read: “Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.”

Psalm 121 is another “Mountain Song”, another “Climbing Song”. In it David says:  I look up to the mountains (v1); I see the mountains: ...I see difficulties, challenges, troubles, danger, seeming impossibilities… But,  My help comes from the Lord (v2), not from man or me or the mountains...  He gives me strength for the mountains (v3). See Hab 3:17-19!  He gives me strength to be like the mountains (See Ps 125:1). Amy Carmichael (of Dohnavur Fellowship in South India) wrote: “The mountains: We used to look at them and pray that their quietness might enter into us and abide…” Pray “Father, help us to climb, singing!” Go + Do it today. 73 In the “Climbing Song” of Psalm 122 I learn the importance of  Glad Communion : Fellowship (v1) - “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the Lord’s house’” (GNB). I am glad when I meet with other Christians to worship God. Also see Acts 2:42,46; Is 2:1 -3; and Zech 8:20-23.  Godly Companions : Friends (v1) - “Let us go”… My true friends are those who draw me to serve God better. Godly friends, who always make me do my best for Jesus, are worthy “climbing companions” (Matt 5:1;MSG). See 1 Co 15:33...  Guarded Community (v2-9) : Focus on Jesus Christ - “Our feet…” We are standing together inside Jerusalem (the spiritual place of peace, purity, protection and the Presence of the Lord). I need to always guard the community I am in - that it does not become con- taminated and that it does not become person-centered, humanistic or soulish…, but that it is always Christ-centered, Christ-mediated and spiritual.

In the “Song of Ascents” of Psalm 123 we sing of  Life as it is (v3,4), ...full of suffering and persecution;  Looking to Jesus (v1,2a), above all clouds and difficulties. Also see Heb 12:2,3 and Nahum 1:3. We look to Him...  Like a servant or a slave waits (with attention, concentration, ex- pectation, readiness for action and obedience) and watches the hand of the master… In Psalm 37:34 we are told to “wait passion- ately for God” (MSG).

From Psalm 124 I learn that I may be Climbing (and free as a bird), only to be Caught and Chained (as a bird in a snare)! My only help can then only come from my Creator, who can break the snare and set me free (v7,8)…See 2 Tim 2:24-26; Ps 18: 4-6,16-17,27-28 and Ps 124:8. I learn to climb carefully and prayerfully.

Psalm 126 explains how  The Lord brought back the captives…(See Ps 137).  The results were (and still is) gladness, singing, emo- tional wonder, and testifying about what the Lord has done for us (v2-3). But now...  They still needed restoration (v4). See Gal 6:1-5.  They also needed to sow in tears and to reap in joy…(v5- 6). See Ruth 2:4-7.

74 Habakkuk 3:19 (Ampl) “The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! For the Chief Musician; with my stringed instruments.” ...“He enables me to go on the heights…” (NIV)

God of the Heights

God of the Heights, austere, inspiring, Thy word hath come to me. O let no selfish aims, conspiring, Distract my soul from Thee Loosen me from Things of Time; Strengthen me for steadfast climb.

The Temporal would bind my spirit, Father, be Thou my stay. Show me what flesh cannot inherit, Stored for another day. Be transparent, things of Time; Looking through you, I would climb.

Now by Thy grace my spirit chooseth Treasure that shall abide. The great Unseen, I know, endureth; My footsteps shall not slide. Not for me the Things of Time; God of mountains, I will climb.

Amy Carmichael Missionary in South India

76 Climbing with Jesus

I see in Psalm 125 (another Climbing Song) that:  God gives me Strength to be like the mountains (v1)  God Surrounds me like the mountains surround Jerusalem (v2). Thus I am protected, guarded and safe.

Psalm 127 is the Builders’ Climbing Song (with Ps 128 & 132). It answers the following questions:  Building WHAT? The house of God, the city of God (127:1), which includes the body of Christ (1 Tim 3:15), my family (Ps 127,132), my own life (1 Co 3), the community I stay in...  Building HOW? Not with self-reliance (127:1), not for ourselves (Gen 11:3,4), not in the power of the flesh (Hag 1,2; Zech 4), but as God’s co-workers, laboring and leaning on Him, resting in Him. Building not with wood, hay and stubble (external, destructible), but with gold and precious stones (hidden, formed by fire and pressure) - 1 Co 3:9-17. Building according to God’s pattern (Ex 25:1-9), on His Foundation and in the fear of the Lord (Ps 128).  WHO’s building? All of us are to build and not to break down! (Ps 127:3-5). See Haggai 1:12-14.

There are many more “Hiking Tips” and “Mountain Tops” in the other “Climbing Psalms”- Psalm 129, 130, 131 and 134 - which we did not discuss here. Those are for your own climbing...

Let’s climb with Jesus! 77 Climbing with Jesus!

“He climbed a mountain and invited those he wanted with him. They climbed together.” Mark 3:13; MSG

TEACH ME TO CLIMB

Let the stern array Of the forbidding be a constant call To fling into the climb my will, my all. Teach me to climb.

Amy Carmichael

“Make me Thy mountaineer; I would not linger on the lower slope. Fill me afresh with hope, O God of hope, That undefeated I may climb the hill As seeing Him who is invisible...”

Extract from “The Last Defile” by Amy Carmichael

78 “Upward compelled by strong desire, On, to the summits high, and higher; Glows holy purpose like a fire, Forward and Godward we aspire.” Lilian Hamer

I will climb...

Bring me higher, nothing dreading, In the race that has no stop. In Thy footsteps keep me treading, Give me grace to reach the top.

GOD is my Goal...

He is the Highest!

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip…” Ps 121:1-3

Happy Mountaineer

Make me to be Thy happy mountaineer, O God, most high. My climbing soul would welcome the austere: Lord crucify On rock or scree, ice-cliff or field of snow, The softness that would sink to things below.

Thou art my Guide; where Thy sure feet have trod Shall mine be set. Thy lightest word, my law of life, O God. Lest I forget, And slip and fall, teach me to do Thy will - Thy mountaineer upon Thy holy hill.

Amy Carmichael From “Dohnavur Songs” Songs of Tranquility and Delight

82 No shortcut to the top!

Mt Everest

Bring me higher, nothing dreading, In the race that has no stop. In Thy footsteps keep me treading, Give me grace to reach the top.

83 27 August: The Beauty & the Blessing of Oneness Pray “Lord, may I live in the place where Your blessing abides.” Read 1 Corinthians 8 and Psalm 132-135 Think + write The “Climbing Song” of Psalm 133 reveals the Secret of Revival and of God’s Blessing. If there’s one song that’ll help me reach the heights, it is this song! During the revival in East Africa a few decades ago, God showed the brothers and sisters that He brings personal (and even public) revival where there is:  Openness (Lev 26:40,41) through honest walking in the light (1 John 1: 7-9) and confession of my sins (James 5:16).  Brokenness (Lev 26:40,41 and Ps 51:17) of heart, with a deep humbling of myself before God and others (2 Chron 7:14), and a resultant humility of heart and mind. This happens at the foot of the Cross of Christ. There the “ground is level” and I become one with my brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Oneness (Ps 133:1), which is the supernatural fruit of Openness and Brokenness. God says: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”; “How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!” (MSG). See Acts 2:1.  Fullness (Ps 133:3) of the Holy Spirit —“For there (at the place of Openness, Brokenness and Oneness - my addition) the Lord bestows His blessing…”; “Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing...” (MSG). See Acts 2:1-4. The Cross leads to Pentecost and Pentecost leads to the Cross...  Prayerfulness precedes (Acts 1:14) and follows (Acts 2:42) this Blessing. Jonathan Edwards said: “The Spirit of God is the Chief of blessings, for it is the sum of all spiritual blessings; which we need infinitely more than others, and wherein our true and eternal happiness consists. That which is the sum of the blessings ...Christians have to pray for…” My response to what I’ve read here and in Ps 133 is:…………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Pray “Father, may Your Blessing be on us, to Your glory.” Go + Do what is needed for God to do it, by His grace.

The Secret of Revival

 Brokenness  Fullness

The Secret of Fellowship

 Brokenness  Openness  Oneness

Openness Brokenness Oneness Fullness Prayerfulness

The Secret of Prayer The Secret of Walking in the light

85 “Run in such a way as to win the prize” 1 Co 9:24b (NIV,MSG)

Eric Liddell Olympic Champion & Missionary

86 28 August: Running with Jesus! Pray “Lord, help me run the Royal Race, and not the Rat Race!” Read 1 Corinthians 9 and Psalm 136-138 Think + write Yesterday, I read in 1 Corinthians 8 that “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up…”, and “The man who loves God is known by God”(v3). This is wonderful. As far as food sacrificed to idols is concerned, God says:  “Be careful, ... Suppose a person whose conscience is weak in this matter sees you, who have so-called ‘knowledge,’ eating in the temple of an idol; will not this encourage him to eat food offered to idols? And so this weak person, your brother for whom Christ died, will perish because of your ‘knowledge’!” (v9-11). In other words, if I eat in a temple of an idol and thereby cause a brother to eat food sacrificed to an idol (because he thinks I ate it too), he will be “destroyed” (NIV) and “perish” (GNB), because he ate food sacrificed to idols...  God clearly said that we should NOT eat food sacrificed to idols. See Rev 2:20; Acts 15:20,29; and 1 Corinthians 10. In 1 Corinthians 9 the Christian life is described as a race that we run. We can call it “The Heavenly Race” or Royal Race. In this race I...  Run to win (v24;MSG)  Run in such a way that I’ll get the prize (v24)  Go into strict training (v25), with strict discipline (GNB)  Temperate in all things (v25;KJV)  Train hard (v25;MSG) and Run hard (v26;MSG)  Run not aimlessly, but with a clear Aim…(v26)  Run according to the rules (2 Tim 2:5)  Run in such a way that I’ll not be disqualified (v27)  Run without sin and without anything that hinders; without any unnecessary weight (Heb 12:1)  Run with my eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb 12:2)  “I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.” (v26,27;MSG). This is how I want to run! Pray “Lord, draw me after You and let us run together” (Song of Songs 1:4;KJV;MSG). Go + Do it...

87 29 August: Searched by God! Pray “Lord, please search my heart and my thoughts…” Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 and Psalm 139-141 Think + write In Psalm 139 we get to know and understand some of the greatness of God as He is described in:  His Omniscience (v1-6): He knows all about us…  His Omnipresence (v7-12): He is always with us…  His Omnipotence (v13-24): He can do all things for us… I ask God (just as David asked Him):  Search me, O God,  And know my heart;  Test me  And know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive (wicked or hurtful) way in me,  And lead me in the way everlasting” (v23,24; NIV; Ampl) When I pray this prayer, I understand it to mean that…………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. God recorded the Freeing of the children of Israel from slavery and their sad subsequent Failure to follow the Lord in 1 Corinthians 10 as an example to me (v6,11) and for exhortation (v11-33). The examples are as follows: 1. The Positive example: Advantages enjoyed by them (v1-4). They were led by God and fed by God. He opened the way for them through the sea. Christ accompanied them! (v4). 2. The Negative example: Apostasy committed by them (v5-10). They displeased God (v5); they were guilty of Idolatry (v7), Immorality (v8), Impunity (v9) in testing the Lord, as well as Ingratitude (v10) in that they grumbled…* They stood, but then they came to a fall! God says: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (v12). To me this means that………………………………………….………………. ………………………………………………………………….………. ………………………………………………………………….………. Pray “Father, keep me humbly watchful and dependent on You.” Go + Do it… *Willmington 88 30 August: I only have eyes for Jesus! Pray “Lord, I want to have eyes for You only.” Read 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 and Psalm 142-144 Think + write David prayed in Psalm 141:  “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord…” (v3)  “Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil…” (v4)  “Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers…” (v9). He also said:  But my eyes are fixed on You, O Sovereign Lord” (v8); “Dear Lord, I only have eyes for You…” (MSG). I need to ask myself:  Do I have eyes only for Jesus?  Do I have eyes for the world and for worldly things?  Do I have eyes for the boys / girls?  Do I have eyes for myself? O, may I be like David who (after he repented and was cleansed and restored) only had eyes for Jesus! The things that help me to keep my eyes pure and focused on Jesus are ……………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………. In Psalm 143 David asks God: Save me! (v1-7,9,11-12) Show me! (v8) Sanctify me! (v10)* In verse 9 & 10 I read: “Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will…”; “Teach me to DO today the thing that pleases Thee…” In my Battle against Temptations and against what is not God’s will, I am helped by the following:  If I think I am standing firm, I need to be careful that I don’t fall! (1 Co 10:12). “Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence” (MSG).  God is faithful, He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear (v13).  God is faithful, He will provide a way out (v13b), a way to escape (KJV); “He’ll always be there to help you come through it” (MSG). Pray “Father, thank You for Your faithfulness!” Go + Do have faith in God’s faithfulness… *Willmington 89 31 August: BE an example of loving God Pray “Lord, please make me an example like Paul was. Amen.” Read 1 Corinthians 11:1-15, Psalm 145-147 Think + write I read about the wonderful character of my living, loving God in Psalms 145-147. In Ps 145 I see His Greatness (v1-6); His Goodness (v7-10); His Glory (v11-13); His Guarantee (v13); and His Grace (v14-21)*. What stands out for me is that:  “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in LOVE” (v8)  “The Lord upholds all those who fall” (v14)  “The Lord… lifts up all who are bowed down” (v14)  “The Lord is NEAR to all who call on Him” (v18)  “HE (Himself) fulfills the desires of those who fear Him” (v19)  “He hears their cry and saves them” (v19)  “The Lord watches over all who LOVE Him” (v20)  “...but all the wicked He will destroy” (v20)  “The Lord reigns forever” (Ps 146:10)  “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3)  “His understanding has NO limit” (v5) - He understands me!!!  “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love” (v11)  “HE ...satisfies you…” (v14). In Hosea 14 God says: “Everything you need is to be found in ME” (The Message translation). Oh, how wonderful is God, how great is His love, how great is His grace—also to me! Because of Him, I would like to live such a life that I can say as Paul said: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Co 11:1). I need to ask myself: 1. Do I follow the example of Christ? ...in the way I talk to my parents, read the Word, pray, serve, sacrifice, stay pure and uncontaminated? 2. Can I say to others at school & at home: “Follow my example”? ...in the way I work, the way I talk, the way I love Jesus, the way I keep myself pure, the way I obey gladly? My response to these questions:……… ………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………. Pray “O Lord, please make me an example again, please be NEARER and DEARER to me than anything and anyone else—forever!!” Go + Do love God and BE and example, by His grace. 90 *Willmington I want to know God…

...through His Word

Oh, Lord… Keep me from turning back!

Keep me from looking back!